Literary notes about Chime (AI summary)
Writers use "chime" both literally and figuratively to evoke sound, rhythm, and a sense of time or harmony in their narratives. In many works, the term vividly captures the resonant toll of bells marking an hour or a significant moment—as when a church clock chimes quietly in suspense [1, 2] or when the steady peal of Big Ben stirs reflections amid bustling streets [3]. At other times, "chime" conveys a musical quality in human interaction, suggesting voices or sentiments that join together in accord, as in expressions of agreement or synchronized emotion [4, 5, 6]. The word also enriches scenes of celebration and transition, from the merry ringing at weddings [7, 8] to the enduring, almost mystical qualities attributed to ancient bells [9, 10]. In this way, "chime" functions as a multifaceted symbol, blending both the natural cadence of time and the harmonious interplay of human feeling across literary landscapes [11, 12, 13].
- He heard the church clock chime, as if it touched him, and he waited in suspense for it to have gone by.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - Half consciously, he heard the clock chime the hour.
— from The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence - He heard Big Ben chime “Three” above the traffic.
— from The Works of John GalsworthyAn Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Galsworthy by John Galsworthy - Moreover, my occupations have been always made to chime in with the ordinary habitudes of my fellowmen.
— from The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven Edition by Edgar Allan Poe - “Nor I,” “Nor I,” chime in Tom and Martin.
— from Tom Brown's School Days by Thomas Hughes - It is all very fine; but it does not chime with my notions of right.
— from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - The wedding bells soon merrily Shall ring a chime to gladden thee. 82.
— from The Witches' Dream Book; and Fortune Teller Embracing full and correct rules of divination concerning dreams and visions, foretelling of future events, their scientific application to physiognomy, palmistry, moles, cards, &c.; together with the application and observance of talismen charms, spells and incantations. by A. H. Noe - And I would turn and answer Among the springing thyme, "Oh, peal upon our wedding, And we will hear the chime, And come to church in time.
— from A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman - In an old abbey down in Italy There hangs an ancient chime of seven bells.
— from The Saxons: A Drama of Christianity in the North by Edwin Davies Schoonmaker - 1021 . higher than the sphery chime : ' i.e. to the Empyrean, beyond the spheres which give forth their music.'— Keightley.
— from An Introduction to the Prose and Poetical Works of John Milton Comprising All the Autobiographic Passages in His Works, the More Explicit Presentations of His Ideas of True Liberty. by John Milton - As the chime struck one, Campbell turned round, and looking at Dorian Gray, saw that his eyes were filled with tears.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - Methinks I meet across the gulf his clear And tranquil eye; his calm reflections chime With mine: "Why do we at the present fleer?
— from The Wit and Humor of America, Volume X (of X) - It is the music in our conscience, the dance in our spirit, to which Puritan litanies, moral sermons, and goody-goodness won't chime.
— from Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
